Professional Massage Diploma Course Level 3

Course Topics, Subjects & Skills

Sheffield massage diploma course covers everything you need to become a successful massage therapist. We don’t ‘cut corners’- you get all you need to be a top massage therapist, not only to pass the final exams.

• Practical massage skills: using massage table, linens, towels, oils, creams, chairs, bolsters & other equipment.

• Swedish massage techniques (hold, effleurage, petrissage, compression, friction, percussion, passive joint movement and vibration, turning your client, prone & supine positions). You will learn many variations for each of those techniques.

• Quality of applying massage techniques so clients relax deeper & quicker. This is where we stand high above other schools.

• How to smoothly combine different massage techniques & strokes to form a flowy treatment.

• The theory & science behind each massage technique. How does massage affect clients?

• Using draping in massage: covering and uncovering clients in a respectful way.

• How to use your body correctly while giving a massage to avoid self-injuries.

• Anatomy, physiology and pathology of all the body’s systems with an emphasis on those important for the massage therapist: bones, joints, muscles, stress & relaxation.

• Common pathologies/conditions, how massage can help & how to avoid hurting clients.

• The influence of stress and relaxation on human physiology and emotional state (including mental health issues).

• Clients’ assessments: identify your client’s specific needs from the massage.

• Contraindications to massage: when massage can be dangerous & how to avoid getting into problems.

• Client consultation: getting the complete information from your client.

• Developing a positive professional relationship & rapport with your clients.

• Listening, interviewing and communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal communication.

• Reflective practice & how to keep learning after graduation.

• Building your massage business: insurance, record keeping, taxes, business laws and more.

• Marketing, sales and promotional skills: how to get more clients & keep them.

• Customer service in massage: how to shine your service so clients want to rebook.

• Combine all the massage elements to create the best client experience, from booking a session to rebooking the next one.

• Giving advice such as exercise & stress management to clients.

• First aid course (valid for three years)

• Hygiene and infection control (including Covid-19).

• Health & safety and risk assessment while practising massage.

• Ethics: confidentiality, boundaries and the client-therapist relationship, professional behaviour in massage.

• Liaising with other healthcare professions.

• History & Philosophy of massage.

At the end of the course, you will:

• Change your career to a happy massage therapist. 

• Get insurance to practice massage in the UK (can be extended worldwide).

• Register with one of many massage practitioner associations, such as FHT. (We will advise you based on your personal circumstances).

• Register with the National Register of Complementary Medicine run by CNHC, the top-level registration body in the UK.

• Work in most countries and any setting, such as private practice, hotels, cruise ships, complementary/ beauty clinics, physio/osteopath surgeries, the NHS, and even at Buckingham Palace, but an invitation from the Royal family will be required. 

• Have a first aid certificate (valid for three years).

• Have a free massage table (if course fee was paid early).

• Have a complete understanding of how to start working and running your massage clinic or work for others.

Facing The Future: What can you do once you graduate?

• We help students find their first job with our Virtual Campus Portal.

• Watch those videos from Urban Massage and CityLux, two of London’s reputable massage agencies. They are more than happy to hire our graduates. Get in contact with them!

Focus on further developing your massage skills. We regularly help students once graduated to find their best journey in massage. After all, we know very well each of our students . Your options are to take the following:

• Short (1-3 days) Continuous Professional Development courses.

• Further massage diploma courses.

• Other courses such as yoga, reflexology, aromatherapy and more.

• University degrees include Osteopathy, physiotherapy, social work, coaching and more.Please contact us once graduated for further support.

Course Structure

We put a lot of thought into developing our course structure. It’s one of the reasons for our students’ success. Each topic is taught in the following order:

• The topic is taught in person in the classroom.

• Enhancement webinars on the same topic will follow.

• Students revise by watching one of the hundred videos on our Virtual Campus.

• Homework is given to students. Don’t worry! We will help you with getting it right.

• Homework is checked by tutors & students receive personal feedback.

• This is the end of this topic’s learning cycle. Then, a new topic is introduced in class.

• Towards the final exams, we start a revision cycle, teaching exam tactics and taking mock exams.

Course structure

• The course runs over 10 days in person (9.30 am-5.00 pm).

• 7 Extra free Learning Enhancing Webinars online.

• Course days are spread over 4 months.

• Each course is either run on only weekends or only on weekdays.

• The time between classes allows you to revise and practice at home.

We help you to organise your studying. All files will be printed for you & you can see at any given moment ‘what’s next’ and where you are standing in completing the course.

In class

Teaching Theory (anatomy, physiology, pathology & more).

Long lectures are boring! Bodyology uses the Active Learning style:

• learning from real-life scenarios and not from books.

• working in small groups where students are active.

• role-playing as client and therapist.

• group discussions.

• feeling body structure such as bones or muscles, not reading about it in books.

• Those are just a few examples.

Teaching massage techniques

• Tutors demonstrate a wide range of massage techniques, methods and qualities. Then, students practice while tutors give personal feedback.

• How to assess each client and ‘tailor’ the massage based on each client’s need.

• We will never teach a massage sequence: this is the worst approach to massage.

• Other skills include body use, communication, consultation and postural analysis.

• Real-life scenarios are the best way to learn.

• Encourage students to find their own solutions, not only following rules.

Our lessons are usually noisy, where students are active, trying to come up with reasonable solutions and even arguing their points. We encourage students’ curiosity.

Home Studying is an integral part of the course. You will need to:

• Practical massage techniques; revise by giving massage to family, friends and other students. On average, you would need to provide 2 hours of massage a week.

• Revise the theory (anatomy, physiology and pathology). We will give you a simple to-do list to follow.

• Towards the end of the course, prepare for the final exams.

• On average, you will need to put in a total of 5-7 hours each week for home studying.

We will support your home learning:

• We meet individual students out of the classroom.

• There is a dedicated phone number you can call with any questions.

• Learning enhancements (online webinars) to revise your classroom learning.

• Our Virtual Campus is an online learning application where you can watch hundreds of videos on any topic.

Who can take this course?

• No academic background is needed, but some high school is recommended.

• No prior knowledge in massage is needed.

• Minimum 18 years old.

• Acceptable level of English (ask us about our English assessment).

• Interest in learning massage.

• Necessary communication skills & personal maturity that is expected from a massage therapist.

• Physically able to perform massage.

Is This Course Right For You?

You don’t know until you try it. We offer various ‘Try-First’ activities for you to evaluate if Bodyology is the right school for you. It will allow you to make a decision based on your experience, not on ‘wishful thinking’.